By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor It was a rare scene last season when the Panthers didn’t win a Prep League championship. They had claimed 20 consecutive league titles, which included postseason appearances. But last season, Poly fell off the map and not only failed to win a league crown, at 8-15, they didn’t earn a […]
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
It was a rare scene last season when the Panthers didn’t win a Prep League championship.
They had claimed 20 consecutive league titles, which included postseason appearances.
But last season, Poly fell off the map and not only failed to win a league crown, at 8-15, they didn’t earn a playoff berth either.
Poly started 3-5 this season, and it looked to be a carryover from the disappointment of a year ago.
But Poly athletic director Steve Beerman took over the reigns and the players followed his lead.
Nearly two months after the coaching change, Poly earned its 21st Prep League championship in the last 22 years, as they went 11-1 in league games.
Poly enters today’s CIF-SS Division 6 playoff opener on a 9-game winning streak, and they host Yucca Valley at 4 p.m.
Many players have contributed to Poly reclaiming the status they have known for so long, but a foursome of Franco Alonso, Matt Queen, Ty Evans and Matt Loomis have been especially instrumental in the Panthers living up to their incredibly lofty expectations.
Franco Alonso is the sophomore shortstop and his twin sister is a star shortstop as well for the Prep League champion softball program.
Alonso is tenth in the area with a .371 batting average and he has 26 hits and 10 RBIs.
He’s also a guy that can come on late and close out games on the mound for the Panthers.
“Franco Alonso has had an excellent season. We sometimes forget that he is only a sophomore and his best is still ahead of him,” Poly coach Steve Beerman said. “He unselfishly has taken on the roles the coaching staff has asked of him. He is our leadoff hitter with a .494 on-base percentage, setting the table for those behind him. He is the glue to our defense. We are at our best defensively when he is playing shortstop. He could be a starting pitcher and did pitch 7 strong innings in a recent game vs Chadwick, but he has embraced his roll as closer being ready when called on.”
Alonso credited his dad with shaping him into not only becoming a great athlete, but a student and person as well.
He said his job is to get on base and set the tone for the offense, as well as playing solid defense at shortstop and closing out games when called upon.
Alonso said the most memorable moment thus far was the first practice after a loss to Mountain View. His teammates all decided they were much better than they were playing and they made a collective effort to be the team they are today.
“I think we are going to win CIF this year. We have been collectively successful because we have always been able to pick each other up,” Alonso said.
“Everyone on our team has come up big, and because of this we have been able to win games along with the Prep League.”
Matt Queen has done a little of everything to help Poly back to prominence.
The junior lefty is 4-0 on the mound with a 1.50 ERA and a save.
If that weren’t enough, Queen leads the entire area with a .510 batting average.
He has 26 hits and 15 RBIs.
“Matt Queen has contributed in all areas to our teams success. He has a strong arm and speed which makes him a force in center field,” Beerman said. “He is catalyst on offense, while hitting in the two hole. His ability to steal
bases, while also hitting .510, puts great pressure on our opponents. Add to those qualities the success he has had pitching and you realize the impact he has had this year. Matt is tough competitor while relishing big-game
situations.”
Queen’s role, as he see’s it, is to play a stellar center field and be a guy his teammates can rely on to win big games on the mound when needed. He also said just getting on base and allowing guys like Joe Masters and Ty Evans to
drive him in.
Queen’s father, and his brother, Jack, have inspired him to be as impressive in the classroom as he is on the field. His mother is said to be his biggest fan.
In fact, he’s tried hard to get out of the shadow of his brother, who was a successful multi-sport athlete and MVP.
Queen’s favorite moment this year was the first match up with rival Flintridge Prep, and despite being nervous, the Panthers dropped the wood on the Rebels, 12-5.
Queen too, feels the Panthers are capable of a deep playoff run if they do all the small things well.
“I think that at our best, we are capable of beating any team in Division 6. We have more potential than any other team, and if everyone is able to access that potential and work together as a team, we will be unstoppable,” Queen said. “As a team, we have been successful in the latter half of the season because under coach Beerman, we have built a culture of winning for the team, not just trying to have good individual stats.”
Ty Evans is the guy that people outside of Poly should be talking about.
The junior has driven in more runs (31) than anyone in Pasadena or La Canada.
He’s also hitting .453, which is fourth best in the area, and has a team-best 29 hits.
“Ty Evans has a passion for baseball. He is an outstanding second basemen making difficult plays look routine,” Beerman said. “He has worked hard to improve his skills and be more comfortable at shortstop, where he plays when Franco pitches. Ty has been our most consistent hitter while hitting in the 3 hole. He is hitting .453 with a .493 OBP but it’s the timely base hits that stand out. He has been clutch time after time in big situations. He is a guy we want coming up when people are on base.”
Evans said defensively, his job is to make plays and take pressure off his pitcher’s shoulders, and his role offensively is to put numbers on the board, and he’s more than done his share this season.
Interestingly and candidly, Evans said the baseball team was ‘very skeptical’ of Beerman when he took over after the slow start, but things changed instantly, he said.
“I knew after the first practice that we had a chance to do something special. He ran a tight practice, and he knew how we needed to improve and the CULTURE we needed to build,” Evans said of his new coach.
Evans favorite moment was paying back rival Flintridge Prep with a couple of beatdowns that were returned happily from a year ago when the Rebels had their way with the Panthers.
His brother and parents are people Evans looks up to for many reasons, and he said he couldn’t be more thankful for their sending him to Poly.
“I believe that our team is capable of anything. The character of our team and the way we treat each other is unique. For these reasons, I believe our potential is limitless,” Evans said.
Last but certainly not least is Matt Loomis.
Loomis is an area-best 10-2 on the mound with a 1.68 ERA and 67 strikeouts.
The 10 wins is two more than La Salle’s Zane Lindeman, who has been on fire over the last month of the season with a no-hitter and two consecutive shutouts.
Because of a broken finger, Loomis has been limited at the plate, but has still contributed with 14 RBIs, and is hitting .316.
“Matt Loomis has gotten some big hits for us this year and plays a solid right field, but where he has been most impactful is on the mound,” Beerman said. “He has taken the ball whenever we have asked and delivered each time. On days he hasn’t had his best stuff, he has found ways and grinds through innings while always giving us a quality start. When on his game, he mixes his pitches well, keeping hitters off balance.”
Loomis takes very seriously the role of being a leader for a group of guys he has nothing but respect for.
He see’s his job as working good at-bats and driving in runs on offense, and changing speeds and locations on the hill and going the distance.
Loomis literally surrendered all credit to his success on the field and in the classroom to his parents, who he says “constantly push me to improve both athletically and academically.”
His favorite moment so far has been defeating Chadwick on the road, because of the difficulty of playing in Palos Verdes.
“Whether it be the long car ride, short left-field fence, persisting wind or the aggressive manner in which they play, it’s always difficult for Poly to win in Palos Verdes. But this year, on their senior day, we were able to come away victorious.”
And what does Loomis think Poly is capable of?
“We’re certainly capable of winning a CIF title. We have found our success this year through good pitching, consistent hitting, and our overall team morale and cohesiveness.”
Anything can happen in the CIF playoffs and as well suited as Poly is to make a run, their opponents in 2018 will see an even better team, because each of these four talented young men will be back.
But for now, they’re happy to start the playoffs and all four wanted it known that each member on their team is as responsible for getting Poly to this point as they were.
Getting To Know Franco Alonso:
Favorite Athlete: Tom Brady
Favorite Team: Dodgers
Favorite Movie: Harvey
Favorite Musical Artist: Chance The Rapper
Musical Artist People Might Be Surprised To See In My Ipod: Nicki Minaj
Famous Person (Alive or Dead) I’d Most Want A Conversation With: Ted Williams
Getting To Know Matt Queen:
Favorite Athlete: Clayton Kershaw
Favorite Team: Dodgers
Favorite Movie: Forest Gump
Favorite Musical Artist: Kendrick Lamar
Musical Artist People Might Be Surprised To See In My Ipod: IZ
Famous Person (Alive or Dead) I’d Most Want A Conversation With: Louis Zamperini
Getting To Know Ty Evans:
Favorite Athlete: Rafael Furcal
Favorite Team: Cardinals
Favorite Movie: The Notebook
Favorite Musical Artist: Big L.C.T.
Musical Artist People Might Be Surprised To See In My Ipod: Ice JJ Fish
Famous Person (Alive or Dead) I’d Most Want A Conversation With: Martin Luther King Jr.
Getting To Know Matt Loomis:
Favorite Athlete: Gerrit Cole
Favorite Team: Pirates
Favorite Movie: Inception
Favorite Musical Artist: Big L.C.T.
Musical Artist People Might Be Surprised To See In My Ipod: Don Henley
Famous Person (Alive or Dead) I’d Most Want A Conversation With: George Washington
